– Available to active Plan A Participants and limited Plan B Participants and their eligible children only
Under this program, the Fund awards scholarships to active Plan A and limited Plan B Participants and their eligible children in recognition of their outstanding academic, technical, or vocational potential or achievement; dedicated community service; and a high degree of personal accomplishment.
Participant Eligibility
Active Plan A and limited Plan B Participants can apply from December through February for a Scholarship Award, which, if granted, must begin being used in the following academic year. You must complete at least one year of service (as defined by the plan) as of the November before you apply.
For example, a Participant who has at least one year of service as of November 30, 2017, is eligible to apply between December 2017 and February 2018, for a Scholarship Award for the 2018-2019 academic year.
In order to receive a scholarship, you must be actively employed in covered service during the month in which the Scholarship Selection Committee chooses you for the award.
Eligibility for Children
A child of an active Plan A or limited Plan B Participant may apply from December through February for a Scholarship Award. If granted, the award must begin being used in the following academic year. You must complete at least three years of service (as defined by the plan) as of the November before your child applies. Your child must be:
- Unmarried,
- Less than 24 years of age on the date the award is made, and
- Your dependent for purposes of federal income taxes.
Eligible children also include legally adopted children, children placed in the home for adoption, or step-children principally supported by you. Foster children are eligible, provided they meet the Fund’s foster child requirements. Please contact the Fund Office for more detailed information.
In order for your child to receive a scholarship, you must be actively employed in covered service during the month in which the Scholarship Selection Committee selects your child for the award.
A child does not need to be covered under the Fund’s benefits (i.e., medical, dental, etc.) to be eligible for a Scholarship Award.
Spouses are not eligible for Scholarship Awards.
About Scholarship Awards
Active Plan A and limited Plan B Participants and their eligible children can apply for a Scholarship Award to pursue undergraduate college or university degree programs or post-high school technical or vocational training. The program recognizes the following types of accredited institutions:
- Public and private colleges and universities
- Community colleges
- Trade and technical schools
- Vocational schools
Scholarship Awards are available only to applicants who will be full-time students. The institution or training center must be accredited in accordance with state and local licensing and accreditation requirements. The Scholarship Award covers tuition but not housing expenses, books, or other incidental fees.
Each year in April, a Scholarship Selection Committee jointly selected by Union and Employer Trustees reviews the program applications and selects approximately 300 winners to receive Scholarship Awards. Awards are made at three different levels:
- $10,000
- $5,000
- $2,500
Scholarship Awards are generally granted by April 30 each year.
The Committee makes every effort to allocate the Scholarship Awards between academic and vocational applicants in proportion to the number of qualified applications received in each category. Award recipients represent all geographic areas under the Fund’s jurisdiction, the Union Locals, and employers.
Scholarship Award winners are chosen at the discretion of the Committee, and its decisions are final and binding. Awards are paid directly to the school to which the recipient has been admitted as necessary to cover tuition expenses.
How Scholarship Award Winners Are Selected
The Scholarship Selection Committee uses the following criteria to select winners of the Scholarship Awards:
- Academic record
- Leadership record
- Community service and volunteer activities
- Character and personality
- Personal achievement
- Financial need
Applying for a Scholarship Award
The following forms must be completed to apply for a Scholarship Award.
The applicant must complete this form. If the applicant is your child, you must also sign the form. The completed form must be mailed to the Fund Office and must include all documents requested in the application instructions, such as official transcripts, SAT and/or ACT scores, and a copy of a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form).
Teacher Appraisal forms from two different teachers are required. The applicant and his or her teachers must complete each form. First, the applicant should fill out and sign the applicant section of the forms. Then, two different teachers who have taught a course completed by the applicant should fill out the teacher section of the forms. You should mail the completed forms to the Fund Office.
Determination of Eligibility for Scholarship Awards
The applicant’s eligibility to apply for a Scholarship Award will be determined after the Fund Office receives the Scholarship Award Application form and attachments and Teacher Appraisal forms.
Only the applications of individuals who meet the eligibility requirements will be presented to the Scholarship Selection Committee. The Fund Office will notify you if you (or your child) are determined to be ineligible to apply for a Scholarship Award.
Application Deadline
Your application and all associated documentation must be postmarked by the last day of February in order to be considered for a Scholarship Award.
The Fund Office will not accept late applications, incomplete applications, and those missing required documentation.
Some exclusions and limitations apply to the Scholarship Award Program. Refer to the Scholarship Award and Tuition Assistance Programs or contact the Fund Office for details.